Two of our hosts are Virgos so to celebrate we are watching their favorite film, and breaking down their stories. First up, Robby's favorite film– "My Life As A Dog, which is also Kurt Vonnegut's favorite film! While often remembered for its sweetness and childlike perspective, the film is in fact a darkly introspective work about childhood displacement and resilience.
Such a poignant (sad, dark, introspective) story made for an unexpectedly fun episode.
Must listen moments include:
00:00 - Cold Open
00:28 - Why We Chose To Discuss "My Life As A Dog"
02:09 - What You Need To Know Before Watching "My Life As A Dog"
13:46 - Did We (Jaclynn) Like It?
17:27 - Sketch: Shout Out To An Ex!
19:42 - Why Robby Loves "My Life As A Dog"
23:35 - Cole's Reaction & Comparing It To "My Dinner With Andre"
27:25 - No One Says "I Love You"
28:02 - Sketch: Cathartic Company Holiday Party
29:50 - Sexual Content Warning // Discussion
31:30 - The Film's Many Metaphors
36:19 - Our Favorite Robby Story
39:26 - Favorite Lines
Key Credits:
Director: Lasse Hallström
Writers: Lasse Hallström, Reidar Jönsson, Brasse Brännström, Per Berglund (adapted from Jönsson’s novel)
Cinematography: Jörgen Persson
Cast: Anton Glanzelius (Ingemar), Tomas von Brömssen (Gunnar), Anki Lidén (Ingemar’s mother), Melinda Kinnaman (Saga)
Awards: Won Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film (1988); Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay); Winner of Guldbagge Award for Best Film; widely recognized on international critics’ lists.
Cultural Impact:
My Life as a Dog was a breakthrough moment for Swedish cinema in the 1980s and for director Lasse Hallström, who went on to a long Hollywood career. The film established a model for the “memory movie” subgenre, using a child’s heightened perspective and vivid production design to translate trauma into visual metaphor. Its balance of levity and despair influenced later coming-of-age films, particularly in how stories of childhood can be framed as both whimsical and devastating. The film also broadened international awareness of Swedish filmmaking and remains a touchstone in conversations about resilience, displacement, and the unreliable nature of memory.
Episode Summary:
We celebrate Virgo season with Robby’s favorite film—My Life as a Dog (1985), directed by Lasse Hallström and adapted from Reidar Jönsson’s novel. With cinematography by Jörgen Persson and a breakout performance by Anton Glanzelius, the film became an international success, winning the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and earning Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Our discussion frames My Life as a Dog as a “memory movie”: a story told through the lens of a child’s perception, where bright colors and circus-like design choices mirror the distortions of memory. We compare Ingemar’s dislocation to the fate of Laika, the dog sent into space, emphasizing the boy’s sense of being “tossed around” by forces beyond his control. The conversation examines the film’s tonal balance—how it cloaks devastating material in humor—and debates whether Ingemar is a typical child or unusually aware of his difficult circumstances.
Finally, we consider the film’s cultural impact. Beyond its role as a breakthrough for Swedish cinema and Hallström’s career, My Life as a Dog continues to resonate as a meditation on powerlessness, resilience, and the search for belonging. Its influence can be traced in subsequent coming-of-age films that weave levity into trauma, and in the enduring discussions it sparks among filmmakers and audiences alike.
